In their online Christmas card Roland DG have once again reminded users of the need to prepare their machine/s for any extended period of non use.

The following advice should be followed for all Roland printers (users of other printer may well gain benefits from this advice).

• Ensure the main power (rear of machine) is left ON and the sub power (front control panel) can be left OFF.

• Adequate ink must be left in the ink cartridges to ensure automatic maintenance cycles can be performed.

• Make sure to perform a manual clean before going on holidays, as described in the user manual, using the recommended cleaning sticks and cleaning liquid to ensure the print heads will be well protected.

• If your machine contains special colours such as white or metallic, ensure you shake these cartridges well before leaving and remember to shake upon your return before commencing normal operations.

• It is recommended that you run a small special colour print upon your return to ensure these inks are properly circulated and to check that they are in good working order.

• Waste bottles may be near to overflow and require checking, so empty the waste ink in accordance to directions explained in your user manual.

One other important factor, particularly in regards to UV ink, is that the environment must be kept stable. If the print environment is poorly insulated, temperatures in summer may exceed the recommended temperatures. Extended periods of excessive heat or cold can be detrimental to ink, which may affect the viscosity and lead to blockages in the print head nozzles.

If you plan on printing during the Christmas and New Year period, ensure you have enough stock as there may be delays in delivering orders around this time.

Roland DG's technical team will be available during the Christmas period, excluding public holidays. Should any user have any queries on the above, you are free to discuss with Roland's support staff via email at: support@rolanddg.com.au or call 02 9975 0000.